Chinese Policeman Gets Life for Beating Death

The policeman, Qi Xin, was charged with the intentional injury of 22-year-old Lin Songling during a fight and was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Harbin Intermediate People’s Court, the official Xinhua News Agency said.

The incident last October in the industrial city of Harbin cast further public attention on China’s police forces, which are often accused of corruption and abuse of power. The sentencing comes as the country seeks to cap smoldering unrest directed at authorities amid a souring economy.

Six police were involved in the fight, but only two were convicted. Qi’s colleague, Liu Linan, was given leniency after turning himself in and was sentenced to 12 years in jail… Liu and Qi, both members of the Harbin Railway Public Security Bureau, were also ordered to pay nearly US$50,000 in compensation to the victim’s family.